The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-10-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Notes on the Lesson for October
30-"The Harvest and
the Laborers."

From Chicago Standard. BY Rev. j. M. Coon
The lesson for the above date may be found
in the ninth chapter of Matthew from the
thirty-ifth to the thirty eighth verse, and
the first eight versus Of the tenth chapter
Time, probably A ID. 20, in the winter, near
the close Of the second year Of Christ's min
istry. Place, cities and villages Of Galilee. 1t
is not known from what village the twelve
were sent forth.
SPECIAL MENTION
The Synagogue The synagogue was the
loca, a. tho temple ut Jerusalem was the ma
honal house Of worship Of the jews. The orr
gin OF the institution ID uncertain. Some jew
lsh writer's have referred II back 10 the time of
the patriarchs, but 1t probably had its rise dur
ing the period Of the BabyIonisn captivity.
When, under the direction OF Ezra, the ancient
order OF things was re-esta biished in yudea,
synagogues were provided IN tho larger towns,
as places OF assembly for religious worship,
Tor the benefit of those who could not go oftenor
than three times n year or less to the Holy
City. In tho time OF our Savior these ms titu-
tons were very numerous, being found in al
most every town and village, however small
They were generally built by the free-wlll
offerings OF the community, and were main
tanned III the same way, or possibly by por-
tons Of the tithea In some ms ances, as in
the case OF the pious centurion at Capernaum
duke vii: 81, they were erected by private
munltoence.
The 7ioelve apostles. @simon," hearing.
@Peter, >" a stone james" Jacob, that sup
plants. @John," the grace Of Jehovah. San
drew, manly, strong man. @Phillp, warlke.
bartholomew" gift of God. perhaps tho
same as Nathaniel, John i, 46) Matthews
reward. Thomas" twin brother "Ihad-
heart, Matt K, -. Judas, the brother OF
James, Luke vi. IL, and John xiv, 22l ST.
mon the Canan@an," literally the Jealous one
("Zelotes," Luke. Judas Iscarlot" man OF
murder, or confession, or man of Kerioth.
Josh. XIV, 25). The first Interpretation striKes,
US rs most fitting for the character (Which
also betrayed him." He was tho traitor from
the first In the three lists OF Matthew, Mark
and Luke, notice Peter always first the
three leading apostles always in the first di-
vision (of four and Judas always the last
What variety of talent represented in these
twelve men! BY them Jesus is to conquer the
world
The apostle Peter Peters original name
was Simon-t G., nearer" At his first meet
ing with our Lord he was given a new name.
from which We have Peter IRON the Greek and
Cephas from the Hebrew both meaning "a
stone" or @rock" His original and his new
name were sometimes combined, though he
was usually called Peter Critics have also
noted the fact that between the Lords death
and ascension he was mere frequently called
SIMON, and afterwards simply Peter. He was
fisherman upon the Sea of Galilee and had
as partners James and John, their father
Zebedee, and his own brothor Andrew Matt
4: Is, 81; Luke 5: 10y He was undoubtedly
man OF considerable property and not with
out education. The statement in Acts 4: Is.
denotes that the apostles were not learned in
the schools He was married. man, aud lived
in his own house or that OF his mother-in-la
Matt 8: 14). All except the lowest classes
among the Jews were familiar with the
Hebrew Scriptures, especially with the proph-
ecies concerning the Messiah.
The apostle Jdnes. He was q son of Zebe-
dee; his mothers name was Salome Com
pare Matt. 81: 50 with Mark IS: 4Q) He
probably resided at Bethsaida 10 ned Jesus
with his brother John at the Sea Of Galilee
Matt 4: Ply; Is never mentioned in the Cos
pels except IN connection with his brother
John; was martyred under Herod Agrippa,
A ID. A Acts II: y There is reason to be-
lieve that he and his brother John were own
cousins OF our Lord. labbott)
The apostle John. lie was the brother of
James, and OF course is not 10 be COMPOUNDED
with John the Baptist Several references in
the New Testament indicate that his family
was one Of some wealth and social position
Mark | 20: Luke :: 3; %: -, compare with
Mark 1G: /; John 10: 20. He appears to have
accompanied our Lord in His first ministry in
Judea, and he is the only one of the evangel-
lists who gives any account of. that ministry
He IL mentioned frequently in connection with
Peter and James as especially intimate with
Jesus Matt II: /; Mark 5: 81; John Is: 23) !;
and of these three he appears to have been the
one most beloved by our Lord John Is: %;
10: 20; 20: 2; 81: Z; 20: 24). OF his personal
history subsequent to the crucifxion little is
known He wont into Asia, exercised pas
toral supervision over the Asatic churches,
was punished TO Patmos, and probably died i'll
extreme old age natural death. (Abbottl
THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE
/. Who were sent forth They were the
chosen whom n
tatives was committed the work of the world
evangeization. Christs own work was ex-
ceedingly limited, but through His apostles
it was to broaden and strengthen. But while
referring primarily TO the apostles, yet il is
true that every believer is one who is sent
forth-sent forth out OF self to all service to
all classes, to all hands.
,. Why they were sent forth Three gen.
ersl reasons are indicated: Q) Because of
the urgent need OF suffering humanity; ~
Because of the readiness of the people to re-
ceve their message; (3) Because the laborers
are 80 few.
3 BY whom they werc scnt forth. Q) BY
One who had Himself gone forth. CT Who
possessed all power to accomplish His pur-
pose, (3) Who impaired that power to those
now associated with Him
4. How they were sent forth. We see this
| to have been Q) after careful selection, CT
| after special preparation, (3 in helpful pairs,
| az with faithful instruction.
5. To what work they were sent forth We
should never forget that preaching was the
| great work OF even the apostles, towering far
| above all else in its importance and perma-
nence This, after ALL was their true and
| high endowment, and one which, unlike mi
| raculous power, was TO be perpetuated
through all time. The importance of faith
| fully performing the service appears both
from the character Of Him who enjoins il and
| from the immense significance of the messag
| to lost man. And in this work they were
simply continuing and extending what Christ
had begun
| PRACTICAL THOUGHTS.
!. Missionary effort is the inevitable out
| growth of genuine compassion for lost
and perlshing world
> Any church that does not, by prayer and
effort, show a missionary spirit, fails to carry
out the purpose for which il bias been placed
| in the world. A Christian church will be a
| Christ-like church. See John xvii Is
| & "And Andrew his brother" How pleas
ant to See men called from the same home
circle, TO labor side by side in winning souls
| for Jesus
4. No one that Christ calls into his service
| will be left without evidence OF authenticity
| OF his mission The evidence may not he in
| the gift of miracles, but ii will be manifest in
graces equally conclusive
| 3. The work upon which tho apostles were
sent forth, was work to which they were ca
| pecially adapted, and for which they had been
| previously trained.